Regenerative heating device



June 28, 1932. N. R. FORSSBLAD -REGEI IERXIIVE HEATING DEVICE 5 Sheets-sheaf; 1

Filed Sept. 30 1924 Mam .rssbw June 28, 1932.

I N. R. FORSSBLAD REGENERATIVE HEATING DEVICE Filed Sept. 30, 1924 5 $heets-$heet 2 J1me 32. N. R, FORSSBLAD 1,364,724

REGENERATIVE HEATING DEVICE Filed Sept. 30. 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet .5

Patented June 28, 1932 UNITED STATES PMENT; OFFICE NILS RICHARD FORSSBLAD, OF VASTERAS, SWEDEN, ASSIGNOR TO AK'IIEBOLAGE'I.

'- LJ'UNGSTBbMS ANG'IUR BIN, F LIDINGO-IBREVIK, SWEDEN, A CORPORATION BEGENERATIVE HEATING DEVICE Application filed September 30, 1924, Serial No. 740,864, and in Sweden October 4,1923.

The present invention relates to regenerative heating devices for transmitting heat from one fluid to another, and aims, broadly,

at providing a highly eificient heating device of the above-mentioned type.

Regenerative heating devices as heretofore known are of two different kinds. The material effecting the exchange of heat has either been stationary, in which case valves are provided to conduct the two fluids to and from said material, said valves being generally built as seat valves which are entirely open or entirely closed with the exception of the periods of time necessary for their adjustment, or, such material has been arranged in a rotatin frame and provided with a plurality of axial] extending channels through which the two fluids pass alternately.

The main object of the present invention is to provide a regenerative heating device which, while having a stationary arrangement of the regenerating material, permits a faster and more simple change of the fluid currents in the heater. In order to attain this object a movable distributor conduit is providedat each end of the regenerating material to conduct the one fluid through a plurality of channels and to simultaneously permit the other fluid to pass throught other channels. Preferably, a stationary chamber for the one fluid is'arranged at each end of said material, a swingable distributor conduit for the second fluid being situated in each of the stationary chambers.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention further consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts all as hereinafter more fully described, specifically claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 shows diagrammatically a longitudinal section of one form of regenerative heater according to the invention.

F Fig. 2 is a section taken on line IIII, 1g. 1.

Figs. 3 and 4 Show, more in detail, a side view and a section on the line IVIV in Fig.

3 respectively, of another embodiment of a regenerative heating device according to the invention.

Fig. 5 shows on an enlarged scale the lower part of a distributor conduit with adjacent.

regenerating material.

Fig. 6 shows a cross'section of a regenerative unit slightly modified, onl the upper part thereof being disclosed, an

Fig. 7 shows a modification of the construction and mounting of the distributor conduits.

With reference to Figs. 1 and 2, the regenerating heating device comprises regenerating material 1 which, .in the embodiment shown, consists of metal plates arranged in parallel planes and forming channels between them, such channels extending from the one end of the material to the other. Said regenerating material 1 is arranged above the flue 2, and the channels of the material communicate with said flue by means of caps 3. Arranged in each cap 3 are two dampers 4 operatively connected with'each other, said dampers 4 being at their one end pivotally connected to a chamber 5, while their other ends may be moved up and down by means of a rod 6, in front of the end of the regenerating material 1. Packing means not shownare arrangedwbetween said dampers and the sides of the caps 3, while the chambers 5 communicate with air channels 7 by means of openings in said sides, as shown in Fig. 2.

The operation of the device is as follows:

In the position of the dampers 4 shown in Fig. 1, the flue gases pass through the lower portion of the regenerating material, causing heating of said material, whereas air enters one of the channels 7 and the corresponding chamber 5, after which it passes through the upper portion of the regenerating material and is exhausted through the other chamber 5 and the correspondingchannel7. Whenthe dampers 4 are now lowered into their lower position, the air is caused to pass through the lower portion of the regenerating material and will thus absorb the heat stored in said material, whereas the flue gases are conducted by the dampers 4 through the upper portion of the regenerating material so as to heat the latter. It is evident that the change of the two fluid currents will take place without interrtiption of anyone of the currents, and by using suitable packing means between the dampers 4 and the. ends of the regenerating material a slow operation of the dampers may bepermitted, or the dampers may even be continuously operated by subjectingthe same to a constant oscillatory or reciprocating movement. The dampers 4 situated at the diiferent ends of the regenerating material may and preferably are mechanically connected with each other, and may be driven automatically in a suitable manner from a suitable driving meansnot shown. Instead of using only one damper device at each end of the regenerating material, a plurality of dampers may be used which are preferabl operatively connected with each other, eac moving in front of a portion of the regenerating material.

In Figs. 3 and 4 a preferred embodiment of a regenerative heating device according to the invention is shown. This heating device consists of a casing 10 which is open at the bottom and is provided'in its lower part with a channel 11 extending throughout the length of the casing 10, said channel being open at both ends and in its upper part with. a channel 13. At each side of a middle compartment 12, which is provided with an opening communicating with channel 13 serving as an outlet for the one fluid, there are three regenerative heating units according to the invention, i. e. 14a, 14b, 14c and 1411, 14c, 14 respectively, each of which comprises regenerating material'15a (see the unit 14a to the left in Fig. 3, where the'casing 10 is in part broken away to show the interior of the unit) which also in this case consistsof metal plates arranged in parallel planes and forming channels between them. Arranged at each end of said regenerating material 15a is a chamber 16a and 17a respectively, and within each of said chambers there is arranged a distributor conduit 18a and 19a, each of which consists of an approximately cylindrical cap swingably mounted on a shaft 20a by means of stays arranged like the spokes of a wheel. The caps open towards the regenerating material 150 and are provided with an inlet or outlet respectively for the one fluid. Some of the plates of said material are extended upwards and downwards in such away that their end edges terminate in the surfaces described by the swinging end edges of the distributor conduits. By this means a tightening effect is obtained between the distributor conduits and the regenerating material, so that mixing of the fluids is prevented when changing the position of the distributor conduits. In order to bring about more effective tightening, the end edges of the distributor conduitsor, the lengthened plates may be provided with" thin strips of known kind.

The other five regenerative units are con.-.

structed in the same way. The shafts 20a,

201), etc. of the distributor conduits are journalled at their one ends in the casing 10 as at 21, and at their other ends in suitable stays 22 fixed to the casing 10, and in the wallof the channel 11 at 24 respectively. Secured onto each shaft 20a, 2012 etc. is a crank of which one, designated by a reference character 23b is connected to shaft 206, said cranks being interconnected by coupling rods 25 which are connected by means of other rods 26 to a common connecting rod 27, which may be given a reciprocating movement by means of any suitable driving means 36.

Each of the upper distributor conduits communicates by means of an opening (281), 28d, 286) in the casing 10 with the open air, and each of the lower distributor conduits communicates with the channel 11 by means of an opening. The chambers (29a, 29d) surrounding any set of three adjacent distributor conduits communicate with one another and, in fact, form only one chamber corresponding to the cap 3 shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

The operation of this device is as follows: Flue gases enter the casing 10 at the bottom and flow into the lower chambers such as 17 a. From said chambers the gases flow through those channels of the regenerative material which are not in communication with the interior of the distributor conduits, thereby causing the corresponding regenerating material to be heated. From said channels the flue gases enter the upper chambers such as 16a, and exhaust through the channel 13.

The air enters the upper distributor conduits such as 18a through the openings such as 28?), passes then through the remaining channels of the regenerating material which lie between the contacting edges of the distributor conduits, enters the lower distributor conduits 19a, 19?), etc., flows therefrom into the passed, will now communicate 'with the chambers-such as 16a, and are now, consequently, passages for flue gases, causing the corresponding regenerating material to be heated.

Of course, it is not necessary that the regenerative heating device has the form shown in Figs. 3 and 4. For instance, the middle compartment 12 may be dispensed with. Further, the device ma only consist of,'for instance, the left hal of Fig. 3. The number of regenerative units depends upon. prevailing clrcumstances. In manufacturing regenerative heating devices according to the invention the units may be given astandard size, whereby the great advantage is gained, that regenerating heating devices of different outputs may be obtained by assembling a greater or less number of such units. Further, a preheating aggregate which is already in operation but which is found to be insufficient, may easily be augmented by adding one or more additional units.

designates a pipe connected to flexible branch pipes, such as 315, 31c and 31f communicating by means of sets of pipes such as 32a, 33a, with channels such as 34a, 35a, which are arranged longitudinally in the end edges of the distributor conduits, and provided with downwardly directed openings. Of course, the connection of the longitudinal channels 34a, 35a etc. with the pipe 30 may be effected in any other. suitable way. By connecting the pipe 30 with a source of steam, compressed air or the like, the regenerating material may be effectively cleaned from soot or the like. The operation of this sweeping arrangement is shown more fully in Fig. 5. Evidently it is necessary to provide such a blowing channel in each of the edges of the distributor, as otherwise only a part of the material would be cleaned. It is clear that by means of a soot blowing device as described above it will be possible to effect cleaning of 4' the material durin the operation of the heating apparatus, t is possibility being, of course, of great importance.

Fig. 6 shows a modification of a regenerai tive unit according to the invention. In this embodiment the distributor is journalled in such a manner, that the radius of curvature:

of the contact surface between the distributor and the regenerating material may be increased. The distributor conduit is composed of two parts, a stationary part consisting of the outer portion of the chamber 16 or 17 respectively, and a movable box 40 open towards the said part of the chamber 16 or 17 J and towards the regenerating material. The

box 40 is provided with flanges 41 and 42 which are guided between partitions 43,

and 44, 46, a pair ofsaid partitions, for instance 44 and 46, extending only along a part S of the length of the distributor conduit. The

partitions 43, 45 and 44, 46 and the flanges 41, 42 of'the box 40 form parts with coaxial cylindrical surfaces, and by suitably selecting the radius of curvature of said cylindrical surfaces, the contact surface between the distributor conduit and the regenerating material may be given the desired radius of curvature.

The swinging movements of the movable box 40 may be brought about in any suitable manner.

In the embodiment disclosed in Figs. 3 and 4, the distributor conduits are shown embracing the regenerating material to the half of 5 the width thereof. In some cases, however,

another division of the fluid currents may be conceived, for instance, when preheating the air of combustion for a boiler furnace by means of the heat of the flue gases, especially where moist fuel is used, in which case the volume of air necessary for the combustion is much smaller than the volume of the flue gases. Assuming the ratio between said vol- .umes to be 1:2, and the air to be heated to pass through the distributor conduits, the latter must not embrace more than A), of the total width of the regenerating material. If the distributor conduits move intermittently, it will be suitable in this case to divide the path of travel of the distributor conduits into two portions. That is, the distributor conduits should be held at one extreme end posi- Fig. 7 illustrates a modification of the form v of distributor conduit shown in Figs. 3 and 4, and a different Way of mounting the same. The distributor conduit no longer has the form of a cylindrical cap such as shown in Figure 4, but its'height increases in the direction towards the inlet 28 and the-outlet 29 respectively. By this means a uniform flow of the fluid to and from the regenerating material is secured and, further, a larger space is obtained around the distributor conduit, whereby the size of the unit may be correspondingly decreased. 4

Any means such as fans and any arrangement of such means may be used for forcing or inducing the air and fiuegases through the heating device. Opening 28 is adapted to contain an air supply fan.

\Vhile. a regenerative heating device is shown and described above in which the distributor conduits are swingably arranged, the invention is in no way limited to such movement of the distributor conduits. Obviously, they mayalso be so-arranged as to perform a reciprocating rectilinear movement. Such a movement may for instance be effected when in the embodiment shown in Fig. 6 the partitions 43, 45 and 44, 46 and the flanges 41, 42 of the box 40 are lane instead of curved.

Obviously any Enown arrangements to prevent a mixing of the fluids, to move the fluids through the regenerating device etc., the form and the arrangement of the regenerating material etc. may be used in combination with the described embodiments without departing from the principles of theinvention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States of America is:

1. A regenerative heating device for transmitting heat from one fluid to another, comprising regenerating material provided w1th channels extending from one end of said ma-' movable distributor conduits conducting the other fluid within each of said chambers, said distributor conduits communicating with each other by means of a plurality of said channels, whereas other channels effect communication between said chambers.

3. A regenerative heating device for transmitting of heat from one fluid to another, comprising regenerating material provided with channels extending from one end of said material to the other, stationary chambers for the one fluid at the ends of said material, movable distributor conduits for the second fluid in said stationary chambers, said movable distributor conduits conducting the one fluid through a plurality of the channels of the regenerating material and simultaneously permitting the second fluid to pass through the remaining channels of said material.

4. A regenerative heating device for transmitting heat from one fluid to another, comprising regenerating material provided with channels extending from one end of said material to the other, a stationary inlet chamber for the one fluid at one end of said material, a stationary outlet chamber for the same fluid at the other end of said material, a movable inlet conduit for the second fluid l in within the outlet chamber for the first fihi a movable outlet conduit for the second fluid lying within the inlet chamber of the first fluid, said movable conduits conducting the one fluid through a plurality of the channels of the regenerating material and simultaneously permitting the second fluid to passthrough the remaining channels of said material.

5. A regenerative heating device for transmitting heat from one fluid to another com prising regenerating material provided with channels extending through the same from one end to the other, conduits at the ends of said regenerative material for conducting a fluid through some channels of said regenerating material, chambers at the ends of said regenerative material surrounding said conduits and serving to conduct a second fluid through other channels of the regenera tive material and means to move the conduits within thechambers to connect the conduits and the chambers with diflerent channels.

6. A regenerative heating device for transmitting heat from one fluid to another, comterial to the other, a chamber at each end of said material conducting one of the fluids and distributor conduits within said chambers conducting the other fluid, said distributor conduits communicating with each other by means of a plurality of said channels, Whereas the remaining channels efl'ect com.- munication between said chambers, means to oscillate the distributor conduits and means operatively interconnecting said distributor conduits.

8. A regenerative heating device for transmitting heat from one fluid to another comprising a plurality of members, regenerative material between said members, said members and regenerative material being ar ranged to form channels, distributor conduits at the ends of said members to conduct the one fluid through a plurality of said channels and to simultaneously permit the other fluid to pass through the remaining channels, the ends of said members terminating in inwardly curved surfaces and each conduit being positioned with one end adjacent one of said curved surfaces and adapted to oscillate so as to maintainits end adjacent said one of said curved surfaces.

9. A regenerative heating device for transmitting heat fromone fluid to another, comprising regenerating material provided with channels extending from one end of said material to the other, movable distributor conduits at the ends of said material to conduct said material to the other, a chamber at each end of said material conducting the one fluid, movable distributor conduits conducting the other fluid within said chambers, said distributor conduits communicating with each' other by means of a plurality of said channels,

om one end of said mawhereas other channels efi'ect communication between said chambers, a pipe extending longitudinally of each of the end edges of one of the distributor conduits and provided with openings directed towards the regencrating material and means to connect said pipes with a source of cleaning medium.

11. A regenerative heating device comprising a stationary regenerative material having a multiplicity of passages through the same, a plurality of channels for different fluids at the ends of said passages, one channel at either end passing through another channel at the same end and means to successively establish communication between said channels and different groups of passages in said regenerative material.

12. In a regenerative heating device, the combination of regenerative material having passages through the same, and channels for fluids to be heated and giving off heat, of a mechanism to control flow between said channels and passages, a soot blower attached to and movable with said mechanism and having openings directed toward said passages.

13. A regenerative heating device comprising stationary regenerative material comprising a multitude of metal members arranged to form a multitude of separate passages between the same, a plurality of channels for different fluids at the ends of said passages, one channel at either end passin through another channel at the same end and slowly moving means continuously changing position, in normal operation, to successively establish communication between said channels and different passages in said regenerative material.

14. A regenerative heating device comprising stationary regenerative material having a multitude of passages through the same, a plurality of channels for different fluids at the ends of said passages, one channel at either end passing through another channel at the same end and slowly moving mechanisni to successively establish communication between said channels and difl'erent passages in said regenerative material.

15. A regenerative heating device comprising stationary .regenerative material having a multiplicity of passages through the same, a plurality of channels for diflerent fluids at the ends of said passages, one channel at either end passing through another channel at' the same end and means to suc cessively establish communication bet-ween said channels and different groups of passages in said regenerative material and substantially preventing intermixture of the diflerent fluids between the different channels therefor at all times.

16. A regenerative heating device comprising stationary regenerative material comprlsin a multitude of metal members arrange to form a multitude of separate passages between the same, a plurality of channels for different fluids at the ends of said passages, one channel at either end passing through another channel at the same end.

and slowly moving means continuously changing position, in' normal operation, to successively establish communication between each of said channels and different passages in said regenerative material and substantially preventing intermixture of the different fluids bet-ween the different channels therefor at all times.

17. A regenerative heating device for transmitting heat from one fluid to another comprising regenerative material having a fluid thoroughfare system including a plurality of channels extending through the regenerative material and means comprising a movable distributor conduit communicating successivelywith the channels of said system to permit passage of one fluid through the portion of the system communicated with and to simultaneously permit passage of the other fluid through another portion of said- 19; The combination of a plurality of compartments, heat absorbing material disposed therein, means for supplying two fluid media of different temperatures to, and for discharging same from, said compartments, and interconnected continuously moving rotary valves operating to control the flow of such media through said compartments, said valves being arranged and constructed to open each compartment in succession to the flow of one such medium and then the other ylvithout interrupting or by-passing such 20. A furnace air preheater comprising furnace gas flues adapted to be connected with a furnace and a stack and a flue adapted to be connected to feed air to the furnace, a series of heat exchange masses having passages therethrough and a rotary conduit mechanism cooperating therewith arranged to connect the furnace gas flues and the air flue successively andalternately with the passages through the heat exchange masses.

21. In a regenerative heating device for transmitting heat from one fluid to another, a casing, a plurality of compartments in said casing, regenerative material in said compartments, and distributor mechanism movable with relation to said compartments to guide one fluid through a plurality of such compartments and to simultaneously guide another fluid through other compartments, said mechanism being arranged and constructed to communicate each compartment in succession to the flow of one fluid and then the other.

22. In a regenerative heating device for transmitting heat from. one fluid to another, a casing, a plurality of compartments in said casing, regenerative material in said comartments, and distributor mechanism oscilatable with relation to said compartments to guide one fluid through a plurality of such compartments and to simultaneously guide another fluid through other compartments, said mechanism being arranged and constructed to communicate each compartment in succession to the flow of one fluid and then the other without interrupting or bypassing such flow.

23. In a regenerative heating device for transmitting heat from one fluid to another, regenerative material provided with channels therethrou'gh, movable distributor mechanism at the ends of said material to guide one fluid through a plurality of said channels and to simultaneously guide another fluid through other channels, and means for guiding cleaning fluid through said channels.

24. In a regenerative heating device for I transmitting heat from one fluid to another,

regenerative material provided with channels therethrough, movable distributor mechanism at the ends of said material to guide one fluid through a plurality of said chan{ nels and to simultaneously guide another fluid through other channels, and means associated with said distributor mechanism for guiding cleaning fluid through said channels.

25. In a regenerative heating device, a casing, regenerative material in said casing having passages therethrou h, means for supplying two fluids of di erent temperatures to, and for discharging same from, said regenerative material, distributor mechanism movable relatively to said regenerative material and controlling flow of said fluids through said regenerative material, and means for bypassing a portion of one fluid around said casing. V

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

NILS' RICHARD FORSSBLAD. 

